The Swedish furniture giant on Tuesday (June 28) announced a massive recall of 36 million chests and dressers, including its popular Malm model, in the United States and Canada, after the US Consumer Product Safety Commission said the children – all aged three years and younger – were killed when an Ikea chest or dresser fell on them.

In response to queries from The Straits Times on Wednesday (June 29), an Ikea Singapore spokesman assured the public that its chests of drawers are safe when anchored to the wall.

Customers should follow the assembly instructions and use the anti-toppling device provided with the product, the spokesman said.

Ikea Singapore added that the recall by its US and Canada counterparts was based on a local voluntary and non-mandatory standard, which applies to free-standing clothing storage units in North America.

“Ikea chests of drawers are tested for compliance to European Safety Standard, and meet all mandatory stability requirements on all markets where it is sold and it also recognises that some chests of drawers are intended to be attached to the wall,” the spokesman said.

“Ikea Singapore follows this global European standard (one of two global safety standards that Singapore authorities require furniture retailers to comply to), and hence, we will not be conducting any recalls here as we are in compliance with safety regulations.”